An Egyptian security official has denied media reports that a deal was made with jihadists to secure the release of seven hostages in the Sinai Peninsula. Some media reports claimed Egyptian authorities had agreed to free 18 jailed jihadists in exchange for the hostages, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported on Wednesday. Seven security personnel were held captive in the Sinai Peninsula for almost a week before being released on Wednesday as preparations for a rescue operation by the army were underway. The kidnappers had earlier demanded the release of a number of detained jihadists, including Ahmed Abu-Shita, who was sentenced to death in September for involvement in attacks on an Al-Arish city police station and a bank in 2011, in which five security officers and one civilian died.